If you are confused about which trucking field you can work, or you need to get some information about different trucking fields (OTR Regional and Local), reading this article will really worth it!
In this article, I am going to show you what is an OTR truck driver, what is a regional truck driver, what is a local truck driver, and pros and cons of these driving fields.
Table of Contents
What is an OTR Truck Driver?
OTR or Over the road driver also called long haul truckers; they haul all types of freight, including heavy freight, machinery, and other equipment.
OTR truck driver transport materials over long distances being away from home for two to three weeks at a time.
Over the road, drivers operate several hundred miles per day. According to Federal regulations, OTR drivers may spend up to 11 hours per day on the road.
They get some days off which vary depending on who they are working for from 2 weeks out with 2 days off.
If you are interested to see different parts of your country while working in transportation then being an OTR driver may suit you.
What is an OTR Truck Driver’s Salary?
According to ziprecruiter.com, the average annual salary for an OTR truck driver in the United States is $63,888 per year.
What Are The Pros and Cons of OTR Trucking?
The Pros of OTR Trucking:
- More salaries: If you work as an OTR truck driver, you will receive a higher salary than other drivers. As I told you above, you will be making an average of $63,888 per year.
- Higher demand: there is a permanent need for OTR truck drivers. This means that OTR truck drivers can easily find a job.
- Travel: You will enjoy the best of both worlds. You are able to travel and see the country while earning a living. You will get to visit places and know regions you may not have been able to see and know before.
- More freedom: you may be able to choose which time of day you prefer to drive and design your own schedule according to your conditions, for example, you can drive through the night if you like peace and quiet.
- Loading and Unloading is not your task: different from many types of trucking job, If you are an OTR driver, loading and unloading are not included as one of your duties.
The Cons of OTR Trucking:
- Long hours on the road: You may spend weeks or months away from your home. This makes you tired as well as sore from being unable to be up and moving throughout the day.
What is a Regional Truck Driver?
After I told you about what is an OTR truck driver, now I will tell you about regional trucker.
Regional drivers operate in one specified region all over the country; this may include a few states serving as a region.
Being a regional truck driver, you may deliver loads during the week and get to be home on the weekends.
As a Regional truck driver, you can expect to operate an average between 2,100 to 2,400 miles per week.
In addition you will be home at least 3 out of 4 weekends each month, if not more.
What is a Regional Truck Driver’s Salary?
The average annual salary that a regional truck driver receives in the United States is $1,172 per week according to ziprecruiter.com.
What Are Pros And Cons of Regional Truck Driving?
The Pros of Regional Trucking:
- More home time: such as a local truck driver, a regional truck driver has a higher opportunity to spend time at home more than other trucking jobs.
- Driving close to home: driving closer to your home means you can eat healthier, see family and friends, and schedule any necessary appointments during regular business hours. As OTR drivers may be away from home for weeks at a time, regional truck drivers work in the region where they live.
- Familiar with many areas: regional truck drivers know the area where they are hauling. as they are driving in a familiar area, regional drivers can focus on the road rather than the GPS unlike those driving in an unfamiliar area.
The Cons of Regional Trucking:
- Payment is on a mileage basis: you typically get paid by the mile. As a result, you won’t receive a pay although you are at the top of your work. Things such as getting caught in traffic or spending time in loading and unloading the fright can negatively affect your paycheck.
- Short miles: as a regional driver, you will have short mile runs that often require extra stop-offs.
What is a Local Truck Driver?
After I provided you with details about both OTR and regional truckers, finally I will move to local truck drivers.
If you are going to be a local truck driver, you will haul freight within a day’s drive of home. In fact, you will never be more than a day’s drive away from home.
That means that in this type of trucking, you see your family and friends daily.
In this type of trucking, you will operate in the area you live in, delivering multiple loads, and having many stops every day.
As well as, you will never have to drive long distances as you travel around 33 miles a day.
Local truck drivers get 2 days off every week, it may be more or less depending on who you work for.
What is a Local Truck Driver’s Salary?
The average salary for a local truck driver is $25 per hour or $51,355 per year in the United States according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What Are Pros and Cons of Local Truck Driving?
The Pros of Local Trucking:
- More time at home: different from over-the-road time, you’ll be operating on the road during a typical 8-or 12- hour. As well as, a local truck driver gets a balance between his life and his work, the thing that other drivers may not find.
- Set schedule: being a local driver you will have a set schedule so you’ll be back to your family every evening. If you want, you may drive the same route, work with the same customers, or follow a regular routine daily.
- Build relationships: you will have enough time to build a strong relationship; as you can see and spend more time with your family and friends.
The Cons of Local Trucking:
- Less opportunity: although there is a high demand for truck drivers, finding a local truck driver job is not easy especially. Besides, this process is harder if you are new or have less experience
- More tasks: you will be required to load and unload the freight you are delivering.
- Lower Earnings: Local drivers earn less compared to OTR truck drivers and enjoy less financial benefits.
After I have provided you with details about what is an OTR truck driver, what is a regional truck driver, what is a local truck driver, and their pros and cons, you turn comes now.
Which type of these jobs better suits you and you see yourself eligible for its working conditions and tasks? Compare well, think well, and decide well.
Awesome article! Thank you for sharing.